Journal

We were fortunate enough to spend a few days behind the lens at the 2015 Dream Roll, an all women’s motorcycle camp-trip in Washington. We connected with Portland-based photographer Lanakila MacNaughton, who spearheads The Women’s Motorcycle Exhibit, and decided to collaborate on a short promotional film for the inaugural event on Mt. Adams. The mountain sits at the foot of the Cascade Range and sets the stage as the perfect backdrop for a weekend of riding.

Kyle and I met Ace in 2014 in Italy, Texas. We made a road-stop to get some sustenance at a gas-station. We heard his music playing as soon as we stepped out of the car. Ace is almost impossible to ignore and I had to take a picture. I didn’t say a word to him, just grabbed my camera waited for a smile and took the shot.

Once we decided on making the 'Blind Guy' and 'Jazzbo' series a trilogy, Ace came right back into my mind. I called up the gas-station and asked for his number and the short-film took off from there. We spent a few days with Ace on his land, in his one-room cabin, at the gas-station where we first met and on his stage built by his own hands. We were thrilled with the way Ace worked the camera and he is definitely a man we’ll never forget.

In a time of increasing requests for electronically controlled camera movements, it is easy for an operator to become frustrated with the endless array of options, mechanics and technical workings of a chosen stabilizer or gimbal. This is all for good reason; Why spend the time and money getting to a perfect location, arranging talent and hiring crew - only to realize that your image is in the hands of a computer?

We’ve been on shoots where we have seen first hand what bleeding-edge technology can do to the day’s schedule. From balancing issues that can add unexpected shot times and unplanned retakes, to lithium batteries literally exploding and catching fire - investing the time into researching and trying a new gimbal system can save you a ton of headache and stress in the field. Preparation is key.

Enter the Helix stabilizer by Letus. The first brushless gimbal that we have used with the kind of ergonomics and inner workings that leave you focused on the shot. You want to tilt the camera up? Tilt the handle back. You want to tilt the camera down? Tilt the handle forward. For a single operator, this makes perfect sense. The fact that we didn’t need three separate people manning the camera and controlling the movements and focus was indispensable on this shoot. We needed precision movements and didn’t want to use a drone, and we needed to do it with two people. The Helix came through for us. From build quality to actual camera movements, this piece of equipment holds it own, especially for the price. Using the Helix in suitcase mode felt extremely natural compared to the wide profile of some other systems. Oh, and it’s made out of metal to boot. Not too light, not too heavy... but just right.

In an early meeting about ‘Blind Guy’, Kyle and I found a business card belonging to Bill ‘Jazzbo’ Hargrave. On the card was a happy man with braids in his beard, a band conductors uniform and a one-man band strapped to him. I made the comment, “If we make another one of these shorts I found our guy.” A few months later, there we were in front of the Atkins museum shooting Jazzbo playing ‘Blue Danube’ on his hand-made rig.

Bill "Jazzbo" Hargrave

We are pleased to announce a short-film we just wrapped production on. We were lucky enough to meet Bill in the Longfellow neighborhood of Kansas City. After watching him perform his set at a local jazz spot, we knew he would be a gem to document. Bill is 76 years old and makes his living as a one-man band. In his life he has played music, made people smile and found happiness. We've never met anyone whose instrument of choice is a thirty-five dollar conch shell, but we can assure you, Jazzbo knows how to make it sing.

‘Jazzbo’ is currently in the post-production stages, with plans for release in late December. Stay tuned.

Brian is a hard working farm-hand from Texas that we had the pleasure of meeting recently on a trip just outside of Dallas. He is the type of guy that takes one look at to know that he has seen some long days laboring on the plains. He is a farm hand who works on a turkey farm in the sultry summers and long winters, and he had nothing but positive stories and influence to share. He gladly stepped in front of the camera, stating that he hadn't had his portrait taken in ages. Here's to you, Brian.

We were fortunate enough to run into Ace just outside of Dallas on our way back from shooting in Waco. Two days of production in the hot Texan left us a little thirsty, so we stopped by a filling station to grab some cold beverages. That's when we crossed paths with this gem of a man, named "Ace". When we pulled up, he was sitting in his wheelchair outside the door greeting us with old country favorites. He played covers. He played originals. He gave us two albums and we listened to them both. All fifty songs.

Thanks for the good times, Ace. You made us like Texas a little bit more.

Far and away one of our favorite pieces we’ve ever made is ‘Blind Guy’. Brigade Visual Support had just been created and we wanted to make something that truly meant something to us as a new entity. We were thrilled with how the project turned out and it sent us on a mission to make things that we ourselves would want to watch.

Most importantly, we are now happy to call Jim ‘The Blind Guy’ Hoschek a dear friend as well as a spiritual and creative muse.

We would like to thank the following for their support on 'Blind Guy':

What's the best way to get to know Old Las Vegas? Grab some street beers and walk around in the thick of it. We recently traveled to Sin City to spend a few days at NAB, a conference that exhibits new film gear and the latest industry trends. In the evenings, we set out to catch a glimpse of what Fremont Street was all about. We wanted to see how much fun offering street performers and panhandlers a few bucks would be. In return, we got some great conversation and a unique view of the older side of Sin City.

This is an important day, for us at least. After hours, days, weeks and months of searching, discussing, and dreaming… we are finally setting pen to paper. Today marks the beginning of BRIGADE.

The idea of what BRIGADE would be took some time to establish. However, the philosophy was there from the start, “To make images of the highest quality in an atmosphere that nurtured creativity and positive attitudes”.

Kyle and I discussed what BRIGADE should and should not be and what we came to realize was that we wanted to be not a company but a collective that provided visual support to production companies and creatives. We aspire to work for and work with the artists and companies whom we respect and admire. We are not a company, we are collaborators.

BRIGADE is a culmination of what we have learned as artists, as people, and as hard-workers. From our time in the industry, we have learned what to do and what not to do. By starting BRIGADE, we are returning to the path that led us to image-making in the first place.